1970 Plymouth Barracuda Rare Find

We've always thought that the best way to enjoy a Mopar is to drive it, and the benefits of driving your car around are numerous, outweighing the risks in our opinion. First, it's just not good for a car to sit, and driving frequently keeps the car's seals pliable, as well as evaporating moisture from the fluids in the drivetrain. Of course it's also a blast to run through the gears occasionally, reminding ourselves of the reason our cars earned the name "muscle" cars. But one of the best benefits we've found by driving a classic Mopar is that it encourages conversation, often resulting in someone telling us about other similar cars that might be for sale.

2/7This issue's rare find comes to us from Doug Schwark via the internet. We keep telling you that driving your Mopar will provide leads to other possible project cars, and Doug proves it this month by landing a deal on this '70 big-block equipped Barracuda Gran Coupe.

Doug Schwark was driving his Mopar, a '73 Charger SE, on Father's Day of 2007, attending a car show and enjoying the weather, when a series of events led him to a 1970 Barracuda Gran Coupe that was for sale. After the car show, Doug was driving home to Neenah, Wisconsin, and while passing through Fond du Lac, he spotted a '74 Road Runner sitting beside an automotive service shop. Having never seen the car before, Doug had to check it out, asking the shop owner's permission before looking at the car. Noticing Doug's Charger, the owner of the shop then proceeded to tell him about a 1970 'Cuda that he knew was for sale locally. Having sold a similar car just two years ago, Doug immediately expressed interest and got the owner's name and information, deciding to drive over that day.

3/7Hearing about this Barracuda after stopping to look at another Mopar, Doug tracked the car down and discovered it was a '70 Gran Coupe.

Upon arriving, Doug saw the Barracuda parked in tall grass near a shed. Knocking on the door of the house, Doug asked the owner if the car was for sale, and if it ran. With the key, the car's owner walked to the Plymouth, pumped the gas, and fired it right up. Noticing that the car was in far better condition than described by the shop owner who sent him there, complete and ninety percent rust free, Doug quickly asked the price and agreed to pay $6,000 for the E-Body. The only stipulation was that the owner had to check something with his bank, causing Doug to wait a painfully long month before he could actually seal the deal and pick up his Plymouth.

4/7Asking if the Plymouth ran, Doug was told yes and the owner quickly fired the 383 up. After getting the car home, Doug discovered that the engine and transmission were the numbers-matching originals.

Once he had the car back to his house, Doug found it to be in great shape, still with its numbers matching 383 HP engine and TorqueFlite, which had been rebuilt along with the suspension less than 3,000 miles ago. As a Barracuda Gran Coupe, this Plymouth is one of 8,183 produced in 1970, and the red color is original. Doug plans a full restoration of his Barracuda, and has already replaced the wheels with the proper 15-inch Rallyes as well as getting the car ready for paint. We look forward to seeing this Plymouth once it's finished, and congratulate Doug on his rare find.